Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Are Your Unhealthy Habits Putting You At Risk Of Colon Cancer?

It’s well-know that unhealthy lifestyle choices, like smoking and
drinking, can lead to an array of diseases. This is reinforced in new
research, which found that individuals who reported they exercised more,
ate healthier, and didn’t smoke were less likely to have a personal
history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps.

This finding
comes from an online Cleveland Clinic cancer risk assessment survey that
included more than 27,000 global responses. The researchers found that
less than 10 percent of the participants reported eating the daily
recommended amount of fruit, vegetables, and grains. Additionally, about
a quarter of respondents stated they exercised at least 30 minutes,
four times a week.

“Colon cancer is a preventable disease. These
results emphasize the known modifiable factors that can alter the risk,”
said Carol A. Burke, a Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist, in a press release.
“Colon cancer has had a significant decline in the U.S. since 1980 when
colorectal cancer screening was first introduced, but these results
show screening for the disease -- and adherence to a healthy lifestyle
-- appear woefully underutilized.”

In general, the U.S Preventive Services Task Force (USPTF) recommends
you begin getting screened for colon cancer at age 50, and continue to
get regular screenings until you’re 75 years old. People who have an
increased risk of colorectal cancer or polyps should get screened
earlier. This includes those who have inflammatory bowel disease or a
family history of colon cancer.

The researchers' findings revealed
only 36 percent of the survey respondents were up to date with the
USPTF’s screening guidelines.

Burke and her colleagues developed a free, online tool for
individuals to learn more about their personal risk of colon cancer or
polyps. Survey respondents self-reported information including their
age, gender, ethnicity, height, weight, dietary factors, smoking
history, physical activity, personal and family history of colorectal
cancer or polyps, and adherence to screening.

After completing the 5-minute survey, participants received a colon
cancer risk score and a personalized screening recommendation.

"Our
hope by providing this online assessment is that individuals could take
it, print out the results with the call to action and take it to their
physicians to start the colorectal cancer screening conversation," said
Burke.

"In turn, physicians get a better understanding of the
demographic of individuals who have decreased participation in
colorectal cancer screening: male gender, non-white ethnicity, smoking
history, higher BMI, lower intake of plant-based diet, and reduced
physical activity level. These results may help them target those
patients and encourage them to get screened. Our next research is to
determine if our tool enhanced patients' adherence to screening."

Some
of the common methods to test for colon cancer and rectal cancer
include a stool DNA test, colonoscopy, and a flexible sigmoidoscopy. The
pros and cons of each test, and other available test options, are
outlined on the American Cancer Society's website.